Image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus switches between a plurality of standby states differing in power consumption and operates accordingly. The image forming apparatus includes an interface, a specific operation section, and a controller. The interface is connectable to an external storage medium. The specific operation section performs a plurality of specific operations. The controller directs, based on a filename extension of data stored in the external storage medium, the specific operation section to operate. The standby states include a first standby state and a second standby state. The power consumption is higher in the second standby state than in the first standby state. The second standby state is a state in which the controller controls and activates the specific operation section to set the specific operation section to be ready to perform at least one of the specific operations.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 toJapanese Patent Application No, 2018-085373, filed on Apr. 26, 2018. Thecontents of this application are incorporated herein by reference intheir entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus.

A known image processing apparatus includes a plurality of devices. Suchan image processing apparatus operates according to a specific operatingmode which is preset by a user. The image processing apparatustransitions from the specific operating mode to a power saving statesuch as a sleep mode when no operation is performed for a prescribedperiod. The image processing apparatus returns from the sleep mode andactivates a specific device according to the immediately precedingspecific operating mode and a release trigger by an insertion operationof an external storage medium.

SUMMARY

An image forming apparatus according to an aspect of the presentdisclosure switches between a plurality of standby states differing inpower consumption and operates accordingly. The image forming apparatusincludes an interface, a specific operation section, and a controller.The interface is connectable to an external storage medium. The specificoperation section performs a plurality of specific operations. Thecontroller directs, based on a filename extension of data stored in theexternal storage medium, the specific operation section to operate. Thestandby states include a first standby state and a second standby state.The power consumption is higher in the second standby state than in thefirst standby state. The second standby state is a state in which thecontroller controls and activates the specific operation section to setthe specific operation section to be ready to perform at least one ofthe specific operations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image formingapparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the image forming apparatus accordingto the embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting a standby state switching process.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart depicting the standby state switching process.

FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustrating an operation panel of theimage forming apparatus and an external storage medium.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart depicting the standby state switching process.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes an embodiment of the present disclosure withreference to the accompanying drawings. Note that elements that are thesame or equivalent are labelled with the same reference signs in thedrawings and description thereof is not repeated.

The following describes a configuration of an image forming apparatus100 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure reference toFIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating the image formingapparatus 100. The image forming apparatus 100 is a printer, a copier,or a multifunction peripheral, for example. A multifunction peripheralincludes the functions of both a copier and a printer, for example. Inthe following embodiment, the image forming apparatus 100 is describedas a multifunction peripheral.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 includesstorage 40, an interface 20, a controller 10, and a specific operationsection 30. The storage 40 includes a hard disk drive (HDD),random-access memory (RAM), and read-only memory (ROM), for example. Thestorage 40 stores therein various data, a control program, andapplication programs. The various data includes image data, for example.The control program is a program for controlling operation of eachsection of the image forming apparatus 100, and is executed by thecontroller 10.

The interface 20 is connectable to an external storage medium U. Theinterface 20 is a connection interface for external devices. Theinterface 20 includes a universal serial bus (USB) port and a memorycard slot, for example. Upon a user attaching the external storagemedium U to the interface 20, the interface 20 detects a connectionoperation of the external storage medium U. The interface 20 transmits,to the controller 10, a connection signal indicating a connection to theexternal storage medium U according to a result of detection.

The external storage medium U is attachably and detachably connected tothe interface 20 according to user operation. Specifically, the externalstorage medium U is removable media. Examples of the external storagemedium U include USB memory and a Secure Digital (SD) card. Data D canbe prestored in the external storage medium U according to useroperation. The data D is text data indicating text, document dataindicating a document, image data indicating an image, audio dataindicating audio, video data indicating video, or program dataindicating a program, for example. When the external storage medium U isconnected to the interface 20, the external storage medium U can beconfigured as a portion of the storage 40.

The interface 20 outputs a data presence signal to the controller 10.The data presence signal indicates whether or not data D is stored inthe attached external storage medium U. The interface 20 also transmits,to the controller 10, a filename signal indicating a filename of thedata D when data D is stored in the external storage medium U.

The controller 10 is a hardware circuit including a processor such as acentral processing unit (CPU). The controller 10 controls operation ofeach section of the image forming apparatus 100 through the processorreading out the control program stored in the storage 40 and executingthe control program. The processor also reads out an application programstored in the storage 40 and executes the application program. Thecontroller 10 can also include a power source control module. The powersource control module controls supply of electricity necessary forcontrolling each section.

The controller 10 directs, based on a filename extension of the data Dstored in the external storage medium U, the specific operation section30 to operate. In detail, the controller 10 receives the connectionsignal from the interface 20. The controller 10 analyzes the filenameextension of the data D through the interface 20. For example, thecontroller 10 analyzes the filename extension based on the filenamesignal received from the interface 20. The controller 10 may also obtainthe data D from the external storage medium U through the interface 20and store the data D in the storage 40. The controller 10 transmits, tothe specific operation section 30, a control signal for controllingvarious operations of the specific operation section 30.

The filename extension is a character string for representing anattribute and content of the data D, and indicates a file type of thedata D. A filename extension for text data is “.txt” or “.html”, forexample. A filename extension for document data is “.doc”, “.xls”,“.ppt”, or “.pdf”, for example. A filename extension for image data is“.png”, “jpg”, or “.bmp”, for example. A filename extension for audiodata is “.mp3” or “.wav”, for example. A filename extension for videodata is “.wmv” or “mpg”, for example. A filename extension for programdata is “.exe” or “.sh”, for example.

The specific operation section 30 performs a plurality of specificoperations. Specifically, the specific operation section 30 performs thespecific operations according to the control signal received from thecontroller 10. The specific operation section 30 and the specificoperations are described later in detail with reference to FIGS. 2, 5A,and 5B.

The image forming apparatus 100 switches between a plurality of standbystates differing in power consumption and operates accordingly.Specifically, the controller 10 switches the image forming apparatus 100between the standby states by controlling the operation of each sectionof the image forming apparatus 100. The standby states include a firststandby state and a second standby state. The first standby state is asleep state, for example. The second standby state is a standby state inwhich power consumption is higher than in the first standby state. Thesecond standby state is a state in which the controller 10 controls andactivates the specific operation section 30 to set the specificoperation section 30 to be ready to perform at least one of the specificoperations. That is, the second standby state is a return state of thespecific operation section 30. The standby states are described later indetail with reference to FIG. 2.

According to the present embodiment as described above with reference toFIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 100 switches between the standbystates differing in power consumption and operates accordingly. Thestandby states include the first standby state and the second standbystate. Power consumption is higher in the second standby state than inthe first standby state. The image forming apparatus 100 includes theinterface 20, the specific operation section 30, and the controller 10.The interface 20 is connectable to the external storage medium U. Thespecific operation section 30 performs the specific operations. Thecontroller 10 directs, based on the filename extension of the data Dstored in the external storage medium U, the specific operation section30 to operate. The second standby state is a state in which thecontroller 10 controls and activates the specific operation section 30to set the specific operation section 30 to be ready to perform at leastone of the specific operations. As such, the controller 10 can switchthe image forming apparatus 100 between the first standby state and thesecond standby state based on the filename extension of the data D.Accordingly, unnecessary power consumption can be reduced when returningfrom a power saving state.

The following describes the configuration of the image forming apparatus100, the specific operations performed by the specific operation section30, and the standby states in detail with further reference to FIG. 2 inaddition to FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the image formingapparatus 100. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the image forming apparatus 100further includes a feeding section 50, a conveyance section 60, and anejection section 70 in addition to the storage 40, the interface 20, thecontroller 10, and the specific operation section 30 described withreference to FIG. 1. The specific operation section 30 includes an inputdisplay section 31, a reader 32, and an image forming section 33.

The input display section 31 includes an input section 31A and a displaysection 31B. The input display section 31 is an operation panel, forexample. The interface 20 can be located on the operation panel. Variousinstructions are input to the input section 31A according to useroperation. In detail, the input section 31A includes a touch panelfunction and various hardware buttons, for example. The variousinstructions include a reading instruction and specific operationinstructions to perform the various specific operations, for example.The reading instruction is an instruction to read an image of a documentM and generate image data. The specific operation instructions include aprinting instruction, a reading and storage instruction, and a specificoperation selection instruction. The printing instruction is aninstruction to form an image on a sheet S. The reading and storageinstruction is an instruction to store the image data indicating theimage of the document M in the external storage medium U. The specificoperation selection instruction is an instruction to select from thevarious specific operations. The specific operation selectioninstruction is later described with reference to FIG. 5A.

The display section 31B is for example a display with a touch panelfunction and is located on the operation panel. The display is aliquid-crystal display or an organic electroluminescent (EL) display,for example. The display section 31B such as above can simultaneouslyserve as the input section 31A. In detail, the display section 31Bincludes a screen and a touch sensor, and displays various images on thescreen. The various images include software button images and variousmessage images, for example. The message images are described later withreference to FIGS. 5A and 5B. The controller 10 can control the displaysection 31B so as to change a lighting state of the display.

The reader 32 includes a document conveyor device 32A, a documentloading tray 32B, and a scanner 32C (optical system). The document M isloaded on a tray of the document conveyor device 32A or the documentloading tray 32B. The reader 32 reads the image of the document Maccording to the reading instruction. The reader 32 generates image datafrom the read image. The specific operations include a reading andstorage operation. The reading and storage operation is an operationthrough which the reader 32 reads the image of the document M togenerate image data and stores the image data in the external storagemedium U according to the reading and storage instruction.

The feeding section 50 houses a plurality of sheets S and feeds a sheetS to the conveyance section 60. The sheet S is a paper sheet or asynthetic resin sheet, for example. The conveyance section 60 includes aplurality of conveyance roller pairs and conveys the sheet S to theimage forming section 33.

The specific operations include a printing operation. The printingoperation is an operation through which the image forming section 33forms an image on the sheet S based on data. In detail, the imageforming section 33 includes a photosensitive drum, a charger, a lightexposure device, a development device, a replenishment device, atransfer device, a cleaner, a static eliminator, and a fixing device33A. The image forming section 33 electrographically forms an image (animage indicated by image data, for example) on the sheet S and fixes theimage to the sheet S by applying heat and pressure to the image. Thefixing device 33A melts unfixed toner by applying heat and pressure tothe sheet S to fix the toner to the sheet S. The controller 10 can forexample control the image forming section 33 so as to change thetemperature of the fixing device 33A.

The conveyance section 60 conveys the sheet S with a printed image fixedthereto to the ejection section 70. The ejection section 70 ejects thesheet S out of the image forming apparatus 100.

The standby states previously described with reference to FIG. 1specifically include a normal standby state, the first standby state,and the second standby state. The normal standby state is a state inwhich power consumption is at a normal value. That is, power is notbeing saved. The normal standby state is a ready state, for example. Theready state is a state in which any operation of the respective sectionsof the image forming apparatus 100 can be performed after a minimumwaiting period. The minimum waiting period is a waiting period that isshorter than a waiting period in any other state such as the first orsecond standby states.

The first standby state is a sleep state, for example. In the firststandby state, the power source control module decreases the amount ofelectricity supplied to each section of the image forming apparatus 100to an amount lower than that of the normal standby state and the secondstandby state. The first standby state includes an unlighted state ofthe display section 31B, a state in which the optical system of thereader 32 is not energized, and a state in which the temperature of theimage forming section 33 is decreased, for example. The unlighted stateof the display section 31B is a state in which the display section 31Bfor example turns off a backlight of a liquid-crystal display serving asthe display. The state in which the temperature of the image formingsection 33 is decreased is for example a state in which the temperatureof the fixing device 33A is decreased to a temperature lower than in thenormal standby state and the second standby state.

The second standby state is a state in which at least one of the inputdisplay section 31, the reader 32, and the image forming section 33 isactivated. That is, the second standby state is a state in which powerconsumption is higher than in the first standby state and lower than inthe normal standby state. The user can for example input a desiredoperation instruction for the image forming apparatus 100 to the inputsection 31A in the second standby state.

The controller 10 determines whether or not the filename extension ofthe data D indicates printable data when the external storage medium Uis connected to the interface 20 and the image forming apparatus 100 isin the first standby state. Printable data is data (may be referred toin the following as “printable data”) which can be used in the printingoperation by the image forming section 33 according to the attribute ofthe data. Printable data is text data, document data, or image data, forexample. The controller 10 switches the image forming apparatus 100 fromthe first standby state to the second standby state when the filenameextension indicates printable data. For example, the controller 10activates either or both of the image forming section 33 and the reader32.

By contrast, data (may be referred to in the following as “unprintabledata”) which cannot be used in the printing operation by the imageforming section 33 according to the attribute of the data is audio data,video data, or program data, for example. The controller 10 activatesthe reader 32 but not the image forming section 33 when the filenameextension does not indicate printable data. The controller 10 may alsomaintain the first standby state when the filename extension does notindicate printable data.

According to the present embodiment as described above with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the controller 10 can activate the image forming section33 and the reader 32 when the filename extension of the data D indicatesprintable data. By contrast, the controller 10 can activate the reader32 but not the image forming section 33 when the filename extension ofthe data D does not indicate printable data. As such, the controller 10activates the image forming section 33 according to the printinginstruction among the respective sections of the image forming apparatus100 only when the filename extension indicates printable data.Accordingly, wasteful operation by the image forming section 33 whichconsumes much power can be inhibited.

The controller 10 can also switch the image forming apparatus 100 fromthe first standby state to the second standby state when the filenameextension indicates printable data according to the present embodiment.By contrast, the controller 10 can maintain the first standby state whenthe filename extension does not indicate printable data. As such, thecontroller 10 activates the specific operation section 30 including theimage forming section 33 when the data D is printable data, but does notactivate the specific operation section 30 when the data D isunprintable data. Accordingly, activation of the specific operationsection 30 not corresponding to the attribute of the data D can beprevented. As a result, unnecessary power consumption can be reducedwhen performing a desired operation.

The following describes operation of the image forming apparatus 100with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3. FIG. 3 is a flowchart depicting astandby state switching process. The image forming apparatus 100performs the standby state switching process based on the filenameextension by performing Steps S101 to S109. The process is specificallydescribed in the following. In Step S101, the image forming apparatus100 operates according to the first standby state. The process advancesto Step S103.

Next in Step S103, the controller 10 determines whether or not theexternal storage medium U is connected to the interface 20 based on theconnection signal. When the external storage medium U is connected tothe interface 20 (Yes in Step S103), the process advances to Step S105.When the external storage medium U is not connected to the interface 20by contrast (No in Step S103), the process remains in Step S101 so thatthe controller 10 continues maintaining the first standby state.

When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in Step S103, thecontroller 10 determines whether or not data D is stored in the externalstorage medium U in Step S105. When data D is stored in the externalstorage medium U (Yes in Step S105), the process advances to Step S107.When data D is not stored in the external storage medium U by contrast(No in Step S105), the process ends.

When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in Step S105, thecontroller 10 identifies the filename extension of the data D in StepS107. The process advances to Step S109.

Next in Step S109, the controller 10 activates the specific operationsection 30. That is, the controller 10 switches the image formingapparatus 100 from the first standby state to the second standby state.The process then ends.

The following describes an example of specific operation of the imageforming apparatus 100 with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. 4 is aflowchart depicting the standby state switching process. The imageforming apparatus 100 performs the standby state switching process basedon the filename extension by performing Steps S201 to S211. The processis specifically described in the following.

Steps S201 to S205 depicted in FIG. 4 correspond respectively to StepsS101 to S105 described with reference to FIG. 3, and the same processingis performed. When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in StepS205, the process advances to Step S207. When a negative determinationis made (No) in Step S205, the process ends.

When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in Step S205, thecontroller 10 determines whether or not the filename extension of thedata D is a filename extension indicating printable data in Step S207.When the filename extension indicates printable data (Yes in Step S207),the process advances to Step S2091. When the filename extension does notindicate printable data by contrast (No in Step S207), the processadvances to Step S2092.

When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in Step S207, thecontroller 10 activates the image forming section 33 and the reader 32in Step S2091. The process then ends.

When a negative determination is made (No) in Step S207, the controller10 activates the reader 32 in Step S2092. The process then ends.

The following describes the specific operations displayed by the inputdisplay section 31 in detail with further reference to FIGS. 5A and 5Bin addition to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIGS. 5A and 5B are diagrams illustratingthe operation panel of the image forming apparatus 100 and the externalstorage medium U.

As illustrated in FIG. 5A, the specific operations can include alighting operation. The lighting operation is an operation through whichthe input display section 31 is lighted. Specifically, upon the externalstorage medium U storing the data D being connected to the interface 20in the first standby state, the controller 10 activates the inputdisplay section 31 when the filename extension of the data D indicatesprintable data. The display section 31B for example turns on thebacklight of the liquid-crystal display serving as the display anddisplays an image G including various software button images. Throughthe activation of the input display section 31 in this manner, the usercan input a specific operation instruction to the input section 31Athrough the image G. Accordingly, unnecessary power consumption can bereduced and waiting time for inputting the specific operationinstruction can be shortened.

In addition, the specific operations can include a message displayoperation. The message display operation is an operation through whichthe input display section 31 displays a message image G1. The messageimage G1 includes a message for confirming selection of either theprinting operation or the reading and storage operation.

For example, the message image G1 includes a confirmation message imageand various software button images. The confirmation message image isfor example a sentence such as “Printable data is stored in the USBmemory. Which specific operation is to be performed?”. The varioussoftware button images include for example a print button G11, a readand store button G12, and an end display button G13. According to useroperation, a specific operation selection instruction to select theprinting operation is input through the print button G11. A specificoperation selection instruction selecting the reading and storageoperation is input through the read and store button G12. An end displayinstruction is input through the end display button G13. The end displayinstruction is an instruction to end display of the image G and changethe display section 31B to the unlighted state. The user can see themessage image G1. As such, reliability of activating a desired sectionincluded in the specific operation section 30 can he increased throughthe message display operation included in the specific operations.

As illustrated in FIG. 5B, in a situation in which the data D stored inthe external storage medium U includes multiple pieces of data, theinput display section 31 can additionally display a list image G14 whenthe printing operation is performed. The list image G14 is a listindicating filenames of only printable data D.

For example, when the printable data D includes three pieces of data D1,D2, and D3, the display section 31B displays each filename of the dataD1, D2, and D3 after an instruction is input through the print buttonG11. Each filename can include a filename extension E. The filenames ofthe data D1, D2, and D3 are respectively “ABC.doc”, “DEF.xls”, and“PQR.ppt”, for example. Additionally, the display section 31B maydisplay dates (for example, “Apr. 15, 2018”, “Oct. 3, 2017”, and “Mar.6, 2014” respectively) on which the data pieces D1, D2, and D3 werestored in the external storage medium U in association with thefilenames of the data pieces D1, D2, and D3. The display section 31B candisplay the list image G14 in chronological order and for each filenameextension E. As such, the display section 31B displays the filenames ofonly the printable data D. Accordingly, the user can easily see thefilenames of necessary data D even on a display with a small displayablearea. As a result, a period before inputting a specific operationselection instruction can be shortened in a situation in which the dataD stored in the external storage medium U includes multiple pieces ofdata.

The following describes an example of specific operation of the imageforming apparatus 100 with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6. FIG. 6 is aflowchart depicting the standby state switching process. The imageforming apparatus 100 performs the standby state switching process basedon the filename extension E by performing Steps S301 to S3093. Theprocess is specifically described in the following.

Steps S301 to S305 depicted in FIG. 6 correspond respectively to StepsS101 to S105 described with reference to FIG. 3, and the same processingis performed. When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in StepS305, the process advances to Step S307. When a negative determinationis made (No) in Step S305 by contrast, the process ends.

Step S307 corresponds to Step S207 described with reference to FIG. 4,and the same processing is performed when an affirmative determinationis made (Yes) in Step S305. When an affirmative determination is made(Yes) in Step S307, the process advances to Step S3081. When a negativedetermination is made (No) in Step S307 by contrast, the process returnsto Step S301 so that the controller 10 continues maintaining the firststandby state.

When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in Step S307, thecontroller 10 activates the input display section 31 in Step S3081. Theinput display section 31 performs the message display operation. Theprocess advances to Step S3082.

Next in Step S3082, the controller 10 determines whether or not aselection instruction selecting the printing operation (printinginstruction) has been input to the input section 31A. When a selectioninstruction selecting the printing operation has been input (Yes in StepS3082), the process advances to Step S3093. When a selection instructionselecting the printing operation has not been input (No in Step S3082)by contrast, the process advances to Step S3083.

When an affirmative determination is made (Yes) in Step S3082, thecontroller 10 activates the image forming section 33 in Step S3093. Theprocess then ends.

When a negative determination is made (No) in Step S3082, the controller10 determines whether or not a selection instruction selecting thereading and storage operation (reading and storage instruction) has beeninput to the input section 31A in Step S3083. When a selectioninstruction selecting the reading and storage operation has been input(Yes in Step S3083), the process advances to Step S3092. When aselection instruction selecting the reading and storage operation hasnot been input by contrast (No in Step S3083), the process advances toStep S3084.

Step S3092 corresponds to Step S2092 described with reference to FIG. 4,and the same processing is performed when an affirmative determinationis made (Yes) in Step S3083. The process then ends.

When a negative determination is made (No) in Step S3083, the controller10 determines whether or not a selection instruction to end messagedisplay (end message display instruction) has been input to the inputsection 31A in Step S3084. When a selection instruction to end messagedisplay has been input (Yes in Step S3084), the process returns to StepS301 so that the controller 10 switches the image forming apparatus 100to the first standby state. When a selection instruction to end messagedisplay has not been input by contrast (No in Step S3084), the processreturns to Step S3082 so that the controller 10 again determines whetheror not a selection instruction selecting the printing operation has beeninput to the input section 31A.

The embodiment of the present disclosure is described above withreference to the drawings (FIGS. 1 to 6). However, the presentdisclosure is not limited to the above embodiment, and may beimplemented in various embodiments within a scope not departing from thegist of the present disclosure. Furthermore, various disclosures may becreated by appropriately combining elements of configuration of theembodiments. For example, some of the elements of configurationdescribed in the embodiment may be removed. Additionally, elements ofconfiguration in different embodiments may be appropriately combined.The drawings illustrate main elements of configuration schematically tofacilitate understanding thereof. Aspects of the elements ofconfiguration such as thickness, length, number, and spacing illustratedin the drawings may differ in practice for the sake of convenience fordrawing preparation. Furthermore, aspects of the elements ofconfiguration described in the above embodiment such as material andmessage content are merely examples and not specific limitations. Theelements of configuration may be variously altered within a scope notsubstantially departing from the configuration of the presentdisclosure.

(1) The controller 10 described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, and 6 endsthe standby state switching process when data D is not stored in theexternal storage medium U. However, the present disclosure is notlimited as such. The controller 10 may determine whether or not data Dis stored in the external storage medium U and activate the reader 32but not the image forming section 33 when data D is not stored in theexternal storage medium U. For example, the processing of Step S109 maybe performed when a negative determination is made (No) in the processof Step S105 in FIG. 3. The processing of Step S2092 may be performedwhen a negative determination is made (No) in the process of Step S205in FIG. 4. The processing of Step S3092 may be performed when a negativedetermination is made (No) in the process of Step S305 in FIG. 6. Thewaiting time for inputting a specific operation instruction can beshortened by the controller 10 activating the reader 32. For example,the waiting time for the user to input the reading and storageinstruction can be shortened when the user wishes to store image dataindicating the image of the document M in the external storage medium Uin which the data D is not stored.

(2) The image forming apparatus 100 described with reference to FIGS. 2to 6 is an electrographic multifunction peripheral. However, the presentdisclosure is not limited as such. The image forming apparatus 100 needonly have a configuration capable of forming an image on the sheet S.The image forming apparatus 100 may be an inkjet multifunctionperipheral, for example. In an embodiment in which the image formingapparatus 100 is an inkjet multifunction peripheral, the image formingsection 33 can include a recording head.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image forming apparatus that switches betweena plurality of standby states differing in power consumption andoperates accordingly, the image forming apparatus comprising: aninterface that is connectable to an external storage medium; a specificoperation section configured to perform a plurality of specificoperations; and a controller configured to direct, based on a filenameextension of data stored in the external storage medium, the specificoperation section to operate, wherein the standby states include a firststandby state and a second standby state, the power consumption beinghigher in the second standby state than in the first standby state, andthe second standby state is a state in which the controller controls andactivates the specific operation section to set the specific operationsection to be ready to perform at least one of the specific operations.2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thespecific operation section includes an image forming section and areader, the specific operations include a printing operation and areading and storage operation, the printing operation is an operationthrough which the image forming section forms an image on a sheet, thereading and storage operation is an operation through which the readerreads an image of a document to generate image data and stores the imagedata in the external storage medium, the controller determines whetheror not the filename extension of the data indicates printable data, andthe controller: activates the image forming section and the reader whenthe filename extension indicates the printable data; and activates thereader but not the image forming section when the filename extensiondoes not indicate the printable data.
 3. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 2, wherein the controller determines whether or notdata is stored in the external storage medium, and activates the readerbut not the image forming section when data is not stored in theexternal storage medium.
 4. The image forming apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein the specific operation section includes an imageforming section, the specific operations include a printing operationthrough which the image forming section forms an image on a sheet, thecontroller determines whether or not the filename extension of the dataindicates printable data, and the controller: switches the image formingapparatus from the first standby state to the second standby state whenthe filename extension indicates the printable data; and maintains thefirst standby state when the filename extension does not indicate theprintable data.
 5. The image forming section according to claim 4,wherein the specific operation section includes an input displaysection, the specific operations include a lighting operation throughwhich the input display section is lighted, and the controller activatesthe input display section when the filename extension of the dataindicates the printable data.
 6. The image forming apparatus accordingto claim 5, wherein the specific operation section further includes areader, the specific operations further include a reading and storageoperation and a message display operation, the reading and storageoperation is an operation through which the reader reads an image of adocument to generate image data and stores the image data in theexternal storage medium, the message display operation is an operationthrough which the input display section displays a message image, andthe message image includes a message to confirm selection of either theprinting operation or the reading and storage operation.
 7. The imageforming apparatus according to claim 5, wherein in a situation in whichthe data stored in the external storage medium includes multiple piecesof data, the input display section displays a list image indicating oneor more filenames of only the printable data among the multiple piecesof data when the printing operation is performed.